Post hole auger tips

[axeman87]

Hi i recently bought a Kubota 2002DT and came with a post hole auger. A SpeeCo, 9" auger. The tips are really worn, same with the pilot bit. I can get the tips off but cant figure out the pilot bit. looks like it screws on but i cant seem to get it off. Is it left hand thread? or just super tight? suggestions?

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To TBN Axeman87. Congrats on the new to you tractor. How many hours?

 

[bcp]

Welcome to TBN.

It looks like a compact tractor, so here is Speeco's compact post hole digger manual link:

Content Page

The tip appears to screw on, so the thread direction would be so usage would tighten the tip, not loosen it. Try turning it the same way the auger rotates. Penetrating oil and tapping may help.

Bruce

 

[axeman87]

Hi thanks, tractor had 990hours, runs great! yes it is a compact tractor. I will get some Kroil on it, thats some good penetrating oil, and try to unscrew it. Might have to clamp down somehow to workbench to hold it down.

 

[EddieWalker]

I had a Speeco auger for a little while. Atwoods is where I bought it and where I bought replacement cutting tips for it. I found that they wore out so quickly , and it didn't dig very well in hard packed clay. I gave up on it in the middle of a fencing project and went to Tractor Supply for a Country Line auger. It is exactly the same size with the bolt holes lining up perfectly. The cutting teeth and auger tip are a thousand times better then the Speeco. It just digs through anything. The only negative I have about the Country Line auger is that it sometimes digs too fast and it will bury itself in the ground.

I see that you are from Fort St John. Do you know any Krischuk's? Steve Krischuk is my uncle and he passed away awhile ago, but his wife Sandy is still around and I think his kids still live there.

 

[axeman87]

Ahh no dont know them. Ill have to see still havnt got auger tip off, but i made up new bits with hardened ends and seems to work great. That might be the trick. Also might have to fix by weld/ grinding the spiral auger tip. But its all good for now!

 

[Timberlake]

Hi all, sorry for digging up an old thread, but maybe someone can help me find what I'm looking for. I bought a King Kutter PHD for my Kubota L3901 about 2 years ago and have put it to good use. Recently, I've noticed it was harder and harder (much slower) to dig my holes than I ever remember last year. We have very hard dry clay soil here in central NC so the digging is rarely easy, but the latest project I've been working on, the thing is almost useless. I realized that the cutting blades are severely rounded off on the edges and have probably been past their useful life for quite awhile now! Looking at the parts diagram in the booklet, they're supposed to be more squared off (more trapezoid-like, actually), so I figure replacing them would bring my auger back to life. Problem is, I can't find them ANYWHERE. I bought the PHD that came with the 9" auger from AgriSupply, but the replacement cutting edges they have available online are a different shape than the original and are meant to fit different brands of augers according to their description. When I called about it, they said the King Kutter replacement blades are a special order item and are over $83!! However, if I bought their version of the 9" auger for only $110, the replacement cutting blades are only like $13. I would rather replace the worn out cutting blades on my current auger since it's otherwise still in good shape, not to mention I don't know how I would get it off the PHD shaft! That thing has been drilled on pretty tight over it's lifetime (any tips on removing the auger bits?). My question finally is, has anyone who owns a King Kutter PHD ever had to replace the cutting blades and if so, where do you get them? Maybe there are other brands that will fit despite not having the same shape as the original? I'm trying to avoid replacing the whole auger if I don't have to. Thanks a lot.

 

[orezok]

Try here. They have just about every style.

http://www.augerteethonline.com

 

[Timberlake]

Thanks, orezok, but I didn't see anything that looked like it would fit my auger. Maybe I'll give them a call once I hear back from a couple other places I've called. They were going to check compatibility with whatever blades they happen to carry. I might also just make the drive to AgriSupply again and see what they have in stock. I'll bring in one of the old blades and maybe something will match up. Here is the PHD I have: 3 Pt. Post Hole Digger, 9 In. Butterfly Style Auger | Agri Supply

 

[teg]

I don't have a King Kutter but my Auger is very easy to remove (after taking the pto shield off). Just a couple of bolts. I think a lot of them are interchangeable, look at the size pipe. I plan to go to Agri-supply this week, I'll look around... can you post a photo of your auger tip? They have more in the store vs. online.

 

[Timberlake]

I'll try to get a picture of it posted tonight. The auger itself is threaded and screws onto the shaft coming out of the gear box. Of course it unscrews opposite the direction it operates which is why I think it's going to be screwed on so tight I don't know how I'm going to get it loosened up. The book says use a pipe wrench which I actually tried to do last year with no luck. I sprayed some PB Blaster oil on it this morning so I'll give 'er another shot this weekend. Of course, if I can find replacement cutting blades that fit, I won't have to take it off!

 

[Ford850]

I didn't realize KK changed their design to that butterfly auger. I do see the cutting edges available on the parts page of the KK website for $70, but I'm surprised none of the retailers carry them in stock. Agri Supply, Northern Tool, and Rural King all sell the PH diggers, but don't stock the edges. TSC sells the County Line branded Speeco augers, and they do stock the edges for those. They are only $20. I wonder if the KK style is any better.
I think I would remove an edges and try to reshape them by welding up the worn area. Otherwise, if the digger did a great job, spring for the new edges and enjoy fast holes.

 

[Timberlake]

Yes, I'm surprised the King Kutter blades are not as available as the other brands. I was thinking about just buying a replacement auger from TSC since that store is at least local and I've heard positive things about them (the PHD's specificaly, I guess not the augers). But these are what my cutting edges look like now. Obviously worn to **** and probably should have been replaced a while back, but at $70 a pop, I think I'd rather have the cheaper auger with much cheaper replacement blades, even if they don't last as long. KK does mention "hardened steel" in their description of their new blades which I haven't seen with the others, but I would hope Speeco wouldn't sell parts like these with cheap soft metal! I've got a couple options, but I'm thinking about just flipping them over for now and wear down the other edge until I get either new blades from KK or a new auger from TSC. Kind of a Band-aid or duct tape approach, I know, but if it works for even 50 holes, it's worth a try! And Teg, if you do get to Agri Supply and think about it, let me know if they have anything similar. the bolt holes are 1" on center and these should be more uniform (not rounded off on the one edge). Hopefully they have something in stock that's not online. Thanks in advance for checking.

 

[Timberlake]

I also forgot to mention that I'm not a welder so trying to patch these up isn't an option. BUT, if anyone out there is handy with a torch and has some 1/4" steel laying around and wants a weedend project, I'd be happy to draw up a pattern :thumbsup: !

 

[buickanddeere]

Don't have bystanders applying weight to try and make the auger dig in.